Government Working Safely During COVID-19 Guidelines
9th June 2020
Categories: Member News
We are pleased to forward and share with you (see attached) the DRAFT Government Working Safely During COVID-19 Guidelines for the Re-Opening of some Tourism and Hospitality Businesses, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Recovery Plan.
We are now hopeful that some of our Tourism and Hospitality Businesses will be given the ‘green light’ to open shortly.
Getting Open Ready
Now is the time for you to start getting prepared for reopening (if it is your intention to do so). To help you, we recommend you review and start to action the COVID-19 ‘controls’ detailed in the attached draft document, bearing in mind that the final and approved Government Guidelines will be published later in June, (for the anticipated July opening and phase 3 of the Recovery Plan).
It is important that we manage your expectations and want to highlight the following:
- You should not open before the 4th July and you will be breaking the law if you do (unless you are providing overnight accommodation for non-key workers). Takeaway services as currently operating are excluded from this date, as are the opening of Open Spaces, Parks, Gardens and operators of Outdoor Activities providing Exercise.
- You can only re-open if you meet the Government Guidelines and have your Risk Assessment in place. 2 metre Social Distancing is still required at this point.
- The 4th July is a ‘conditional’ date that could be changed/delayed at any time and is totally dependent on any emerging medical and clinical evidence regarding the development of the COVID-19 virus.
- We all have to wait for the Government to announce that we can open BEFORE we can re-open, (like they did with the schools returning and retail opening).
- COVID-19 Compliance will materially change your ‘normal’ product offering and/or normal service and you may make the decision to delay opening.
- Monitoring - Torbay Council will carry out spot checks regarding the necessary Risk Assessments being in place and follow up any public concerns.
- Training - The Government are hosting free COVID-19 Secure webinars to support businesses with reopening, to find out more and to register visit>
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need any further information. We will endeavour to keep you updated as the Government develops its guidelines. The critical issue is to ensure that you don't open until you are fully ready and can comply with the new regulations (once published). We would also strongly recommend applying for a Visit England Accreditation certificate once their scheme has gone live so you can prove that you are operating safely. We will send you full details once the scheme is live.
Rhys Roberts, Visit Devon, Chairman
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